Bruce-Rogers Company History

In May of 1922 a group of seven investors purchased the Fort Smith, Arkansas, branch office of a Tulsa, Oklahoma, based wholesaler, Meister Brothers – Bracht Company.  The major shareholders of the new company were Mr. Bert Bruce and Mr. Doug Rogers, Sr., thus the new business was named the Bruce-Rogers Company.  The company at that time was a wholesale distributor of plumbing supplies, mill and mine supplies, electrical components, light plants, and automobile accessories.  

The newly formed Bruce-Rogers Company continued operating as a wholesale distributor of plumbing and mill and mine supplies, but discontinued handling electrical supplies, light plants, and automobile accessories.  With the introduction and growth of manufacturing in western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma, the company grew to become a general line plumbing and industrial supply house.  The company operated a machine shop from 1950 to 1969 to compliment industrial supply sales.  The plumbing supply business grew as bathrooms and kitchens received more consideration and emphasis in new residential construction.  Heating and air-conditioning product lines were added in 1972.  

Mr. Bert Bruce was the first president of the Bruce-Rogers Company.  The Bruce family sold their interest in the company in 1932.  At that time, Mr. Doug Rogers, Sr. became president, as well the major shareholder.  He served as the president and general manager until his untimely death in 1938.  He was succeeded by Mr. O. E. “Otto” Hennig, who was one of the original investors in the company.  Mr. Hennig served the company as president and general manager until 1950.  Mr. Hennig was succeeded by Mr. Douglas G. Rogers, Jr., who rejoined the company in 1945, after military service.  Under Mr. Rogers, Jr. leadership, the company established branch locations in Rogers, Arkansas, and Russellville, Arkansas.  He built new warehouse facilities in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Russellville, Arkansas.  Mr. Rogers, Jr., was instrumental in growing the business as well as consolidating the ownership to his immediate family.  He retired in 1986 and assumed the position of Chairman, until his death in December, 1988.  Mr. Rogers, Jr., was succeeded as president and general manager in 1986, by Doug Rogers, III, who is currently the president and general manager.

Today Bruce-Rogers Company operates primarily as a plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning equipment supply house serving plumbing contractors and heating and air-conditioning contractors in western Arkansas, eastern Oklahoma, and southern Missouri.  The company’s home office is located in Fort Smith, AR, with branch locations in the cities of Rogers, AR, Russellville, AR, Conway, AR, Mena, AR, and Hot Springs, AR. In 1993, Mr. Rogers, III, established an Employee Stock Ownership Trust (ESOT), which purchased the interests of all other family members.  Today the company is owned by its’ employees.  According to Mr. Rogers, III, “Creating the ESOT gave the people whose efforts make this business successful, a vested interest in its’ performance.   Many great people have contributed to the life of this company over the past eighty-six years, whether they served as employees, customers, or suppliers.  I feel fortunate to have known and worked with many of them.”